How to Know if You Have Fed a Goldfish Enough

Feeding goldfish can be a challenge when no matter how much or how little you feed they seem to be ready to eat. Overfeeding your goldfish can result in poor tank conditions and dead fish. Incorporating a feeding schedule that maximizes the health of your goldfish can be achieved by keeping a few trusted rules in mind during routine feedings and learning your tank's feeding behaviors.

  1. Fish Health Check

    • Fish that are capable of digesting and consuming the foods you feed will feed hungrily. However, sometimes fish are unable to eat the food provided. Keep a close eye out on fish that routinely skip feedings. Healthy goldfish have normal swimming patterns with clean, healthy scales and fins. Fish that are unhealthy may lose their appetite and display poor scale and fin health.

    Food Quality Check

    • Goldfish prefer to eat foods that sink to the bottom or float in the middle of the tank rather than flakes. Nevertheless, regardless of what food type you select for your tank be aware of the pros and cons of each. Flake foods are easily affordable and accessible but cause the fish to swallow air as they feed. Pellet foods do not cause water quality disruption when they decompose but may be a bit more expensive. Whether you select flake or pellet, quality fresh foods are healthier and more appetizing to you fish.

    Food Quantity Check

    • Understand how to read each fish's body language during feeding times so that you can recognize when your fish are full. Feeding small amounts a few times a day and removing what is not eaten within five minutes allows your fish time to get full and prevents overfeeding. If you find you are feeling sorry for your fish, offer pieces of fresh fruits, greens and other veggies for them to feed on. Not only are fruits and veggies low in protein, but they also provide essential vitamins that strengthens your fish's immune system.

    Water Quality Check

    • Examine your tank for water quality. Fish that are fed the right amount of food for their size have cleaner tanks. Overfeeding fish causes algae and waste build up that reduces your fish's health and makes for an unsightly tank. Even though goldfish are bottom feeders by nature, they thrive better in clean water conditions. Feeding the right amount of food reduces the potential for excessive waste produced by overeating fish.